Barracuda is a new beach eatery in Dehiwala. They have beautiful seating under a mangrove canopy and on the beach and some solid Chinese food. As long as there isn’t a party going on, it’s a great place to hang.
Despite being a seaside town, Colombo doesn’t have many beach restaurants. In Colombo proper there’s only Beach Wadiya, in Wellawatte. In Dehiwala there’s The Station and in Mount there’s Casadi and Buba.
Barracuda is a new addition to those ranks and it’s a good one. They have a great location (next to the Station, down from the William Grinding Mills junction) and quite good Chinese food. Great place for a sunset beer and bites.
The Food
Salt and pepper cuttlefishWe visited Barracuda around sunset. We ordered some beers (somewhat off menu) and a slow progression of courses. The Barracuda menu is basically Chinese. We’ve heard that they’ve recruited chefs from some prominent Chinese restaurants and the results are good. It’s flavorful beach food without being too salty or oily. We wouldn’t call it healthy mind you, but it makes for pleasant eating.
We started with the salt and pepper cuttlefish (Rs. 580 for small, which is enough for four people to nibble). This was perfectly cooked (not to tough, not too raw) and joyfully seasoned with onion and chilis. Well presented, very tasty, fresh.
We also tried the cauliflower in butter sauce (Rs. 498). This was my choice, much controversy (no meat?) but I think it was really good. Buttery yes, but the cauliflower was done with a good snappity crunch and punctuated with mushrooms and carrots. Gives hope for their vegetarian options.
Finally, we tried a chicken fried rice (Rs. 498) which was quite nice even on its own.
The food is basically straight Chinese and they do a good job of it. It’s colorful, spicy and goes very well with beers on the beach.
Location
Barracuda has a prime (and clean) spot next to the beach in Dehiwala. Marine Drive actually extends out here now, just keep going pass Wellawatte and cross the bridge over the canal.
You can dine/drink on the beach, or inside under a canopy of trees. There are mangroves and even though it was raining, we were able to stay dry under the dense cover. They also have indoor seating.
Service
The lady running front of house was super nice, helpful and hilarious. We asked her for a recommendation and she said lobster (the most expensive thing on the menu). We asked again and she still said lobster. She was really sweet, joking with us but always keeping the beer and food coming as well. Everyone we interacted with there was very nice.
Conclusion
We had a great time here. It’s a friendly spot on the beach, very near Colombo, with good Chinese food. Doesn’t get much better.
